Boost with Dr. Bowen

28/08/2026

The first pic is the wing of a field digger wasp.

Yesterday my daughter and I saw a wasp feeding on a fly on my study window. My first guess was a parasitic wasp but I couldn’t get a good photo to identify it. Today, she told me that she had found the wasp (or one that looked like it), dead, lying on the trampoline. She asked if she could bring it in and view it with a microscope. Below is an image of its wing taken at x100. I do love the iridescence!

I was able to use my Seek app to I.D. it as a field digger wasp. A solitary wasp that normally feeds on nectar. The wasp we had seen yesterday was a mother trying to take a meal back for her larvae. I hope she made it! These wasps don’t generally attack humans and keep fly populations in check.

22/08/2026

First week back for many Scottish schools and it has been a busy one for me in terms of tutoring. I met four new clients this week, each one on a trial basis, and all have chosen to stay with me for sessions so I'm feeling very positive. ☺️

This week I have been working with students with biology and chemistry at lots of different levels: IGCSE, GCSE, IB, A level, N5, Higher, and I love the variety that this brings.

My son started his own secondary science journey this week and the teacher began, as I always did, posing the question 'What is Science?'

It's such a BIG question, and one that I continue to explore as an adult, and established scientist. For me, it is a way of working. A way of trying to understand the world, excluding as many biases as possible to obtain the truth. It also means collaborating with people, often globally, to solve a common problem.

Schools and universities, for ease of educating, split science into biology, chemistry, and physics. However, this makes it harder for students to appreciate what happens at the edges. Where does biology start and chemistry end? I am a great believer in the multidisciplinary approach, but it helps that I am a general science geek 🤓🔬⚗⚛

What does science mean for you?
Did your child start their science journey this week too?

(Image from NOAA)

17/08/2026

Now that the children are back at school, and I can really sink back into my work, I have been reflecting more deeply on my last year.

I am still learning about how to use this platform, to best help both me and young people out there. I was lucky enough to attend a great session with Jac McGill from The Wee Coaching Company and it has inspired me to look around at what other tutors are doing on their socials. I also hope that it will bring more possible collaborations, this is how scientists (and humans) are used to working after all.

I love learning about how to keep improving what I do!

What have YOU done with your Monday so far?
Is there anything that you would like to see me post about?

13/08/2026

It’s A level results day! I’m so pleased that my clients have achieved grades that make them proud. This a wonderful addition to the many successful Scottish students I have worked with. One more results day to go (IGCSE next week) and by then the Scottish new term will be in full swing.

I am so excited and looking forward to what this coming year will bring, particularly as my son also starts secondary school.

I am proud of all of my clients, for their hard work and perseverance. I can’t wait to support another round of young people as they move towards their futures.

04/08/2026

Results Day
I’m so proud of my clients and students for all they did to get to this point. Best of luck for next steps, whatever they may be.

30/06/2026

Looking back through some pictures of my time spent teaching in India has filled me with deep nostalgia. It is interesting to ponder what it is I long for. The two months that I spent living and working in India gave me such a different outlook on life in general that my now husband found me almost unrecognisable.

I am grateful for the children, staff and volunteers that I met. The ones who helped me grow and develop new perspectives. There were hard times and the culture shock was extreme but overall my experience was life-changing.

To those embarking upon a gap year, or even just a few months, do consider volunteering in whichever country you visit (if your visa allows it). Living and working with locals offers a view of the country that you might otherwise miss.

Are you taking a gap year? Where to and why did you choose it?
Or have you already taken one? What were your best moments?

25/06/2026

The importance of Oracy

Yesterday evening I attended a course online about how we can design lessons to build confidence in science. As a practitioner with 14 years of classroom experience, much of what was said was not new to me. However, the session discussed the importance of embedding the development of oracy within as many lessons as possible and I plan to do much more research around this.

I am not a classroom teacher any longer, and so I need to adapt what I have read. The advantages of working 1:1 with students means that I can help students, usually those who lack the confidence to speak up in the classroom, to develop their ability and confidence to use the critical terminology are clear. I cannot wait to make changes to my practice to better support my students.

Teachers and tutors, how do you embed oracy in your lessons/sessions? Any tips/tricks to help me on my journey?

04/06/2026

My son has his first of two full day transition days as secondary today, and I think the whole family is a little nervous, and excited.

It comes at the end of the first week in the new school year for many of my clients too. Trying out their new timetables ahead of the summer break.

For the new S6, if they are planning to apply for medicine or dentistry, they will also be practicing and preparing for their UCAT. Others in the year group may think that they can relax this summer but I would urge them to think ahead too.

Writing personal statements is something that most people find tricky. How to make yourself stand out in a pile of applications? So, this summer make sure your young person does something from the list below so that they have something to write about in their UCAS / job applications:

• read a relevant book - not a school textbook, something that shows that you have an interest ‘over and above’ what is covered in school, ask the class teacher for ideas - they will likely love having someone to geek out with them over their subject!

• complete a related course - there are LOADS of free courses online, find a relevant one and show that you’re committed to your subject area - send me a message if you want ideas for a particular subject area

• if possible, get some work experience - make calls or ask a family friend if you can gain some experience, volunteering for a couple of days or longer

Parents: any other tips you’d like me to offer?
Tutors/teachers: what would you add to the list?
Friends: please like and share, particularly with new S6 parents

14/05/2026

01/05/2026

⏰ Make revision more effective without spending more time

👀 How to use Achieve to identify weak areas 🔍

1. Use the self-evaluation tab to RAG rate the whole syllabus
2. Focus on improving understanding of the red areas
- clinics/supported study in school
- using BBC bitesize and other sites
- test knowledge and understanding with questions

I’m reposting this video because some of my clients weren’t aware of how to best use achieve, nor were they aware that I had created this video.

Students end up revising entire topics when they know a lot already. Instead, they should make more efficient progress by targeting weakest areas first.

2 likes, 3 comments. "Using Achieve for SQA revision"